1998–99 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team
American college basketball season
The 1998–99 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represented the University of Maryland in the 1998–1999 college basketball season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The team was led by head coach Gary Williams and played their home games at the Cole Field House . Ranked as high as #2 in the AP and Coaches' polls, the team finished 28–6, 13–3 in ACC play and lost in the semifinals of the ACC tournament to UNC . They received an at-large bid as a number 2 seed in the 1999 NCAA tournament , where they lost to St. John's in the Sweet Sixteen. Official highlights of the season can now be viewed online .
Pre-season
Accolades
Team
AP ranked Preseason #6 team.
Obinna Ekezie
Preseason All-American
Laron Profit
Preseason All-American[2]
Roster
1998–99 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Hometown
G/F
3
Laron Profit
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
202 lb (92 kg)
Sr
Charleston, South Carolina
G
5
Juan Dixon
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
152 lb (69 kg)
Fr
Baltimore, Maryland
G
12
Terrell Stokes
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
187 lb (85 kg)
Sr
Philadelphia
G
15
Danny Miller
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Fr
Mt. Holly, New Jersey
G
20
Matt Hahn
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
162 lb (73 kg)
Jr
Columbia, Maryland
F
21
LaRon Cephas
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
223 lb (101 kg)
So
Wilmington, Delaware
G
23
Steve Francis
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
194 lb (88 kg)
Jr
Takoma Park, Maryland
G
31
Norman Fields
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Sr
Mt. Vernon, New York
F/C
33
Mike Mardesich
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
So
Boston, Massachusetts
F
35
Lonny Baxter
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Fr
Silver Spring, Maryland
F
44
Terence Morris
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
So
Frederick, Maryland
F/C
45
Brian Watkins
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
229 lb (104 kg)
Sr
Nashville, Tennessee
F/C
54
Obinna Ekezie
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
262 lb (119 kg)
Sr
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
Roster Last update: 2011-04-29
Season Recap
With nearly all of its starters returning and a #6 preseason ranking, the Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team began the 1998–99 season with high expectations for a successful season and a deep run in the NCAA tournament.[3] [4] [5] In their opening game, the team broke its record for margin of victory in a 113–46 victory against Western Carolina (a record that would be broken six weeks later with a 75-point victory over North Texas[6] ). The Terrapins also went 6–0 against nonconference opponents at home, increasing their nonconference home winning streak to 64, the longest in the country at the time.
The team participated in two preseason tournaments, winning both. They defeated AU-Puerto Rico, UCLA, and Pittsburgh in the Puerto Rico shootout, and Stanford and Depaul in the 4-team BB&T Classic. Their first loss of the season came in Lexington against Tubby Smith 's #5 ranked Kentucky Wildcats.
In ACC play, the team outscored its opponents by an average of 17.4 points in victories while posting an overall home record of 13–1 (7–1), its lone home loss coming against Duke. The team would finish 2nd in the ACC regular season standings with a 13–3 record, Maryland's best run since the 1994–95 season . In the 1999 ACC Tournament, the Terrapins defeated Florida State before losing to North Carolina in the semifinals.
The Terrapins received a #2 seed in the South region on the NCAA tournament – the highest seed ever received by a Gary Williams team[7] – and breezed through their first two matches against Valparaiso and Creighton. However, in the regional semifinals, the team struggled against #3 seed St. Johns, ending the first half of the game in a nearly eight-minute scoring drought. Maryland lost 76–62 and once again failed to advance past the Sweet Sixteen.
Accolades
Steve Francis
2nd Team All-American
Naismith and Wooden Award Finalist
1st Team All-ACC
ACC All-Tournament Team
Terrence Morris
Honorable Mention All-American
1st Team All-ACC
Laron Profit
Honorable Mention All-American
Lonny Baxter & Juan Dixon
ACC All-Freshmen Honorable Mention
Draft
Schedule
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
11/04/98 *
Aussie All-Stars
W 90–59
–
17 – Profit
14 – Ekezie
6 – Profit
Cole Field House (12,486)College Park, Maryland
11/11/98 *
California All-Stars
W 95–83
–
18 – Francis
13 – Ekezie
6 – Francis
Cole Field House (NA)College Park, Maryland
Regular season
11/14/98 *
No. 6
Western Carolina
W 113–46
1–0
19 – Ekezie
9 – Dixon
15 – Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
11/17/98 *
No. 6
UMBC
W 90–62
2–0
19 – Morris
11 – Ekezie
8 – Profit
Cole Field House (13,865)College Park, Maryland
11/20/98 *
No. 6
Hofstra
W 89–59
3–0
23 – Ekezie
11 – Ekezie
9 – Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
11/23/98 *
No. 5
Duquesne
W 81–47
4–0
18 – Morris
7 – Profit
4 – Dixon, Profit, Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
11/26/98 *
No. 5
vs. American-Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Shootout
W 82–32
5–0
14 – Dixon, Miller
8 – Ekezie
7 – Stokes
Eugenio Guerra Sports Complex (3,000)San Juan, Puerto Rico
11/27/98 *
No. 5
vs. No. 10 UCLA Puerto Rico Shootout
W 70–54
6–0
22 – Morris
11 – Morris
6 – Profit
Eugenio Guerra Sports Complex (3,000)San Juan, Puerto Rico
11/28/98 *
No. 5
vs. Pittsburgh Puerto Rico Shootout
W 87–52
7–0
23 – Profit
8 – Mardesich, Morris
8 – Stokes
Eugenio Guerra Sports Complex (3,000)San Juan, Puerto Rico
12/03/98
No. 2
Wake Forest
W 92–69
8–0 (1–0)
18 – Francis
7 – Baxter
8 – Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
12/06/98 *
No. 2
vs. No. 5 Stanford BB&T Classic
W 62–60
9–0
24 – Francis
7 – Francis
3 – Morris, Stokes
MCI Center (20,544)Washington, D.C.
12/07/98 *
No. 2
vs. DePaul BB&T Classic
W 92–75
10–0
22 – Morris
6 – Morris
4 – Stokes
MCI Center (18,244)Washington, D.C.
12/12/98 *
No. 2
at No. 5 Kentucky
L 91–103
10–1
26 – Morris
9 – Ekezie
5 – Francis
Rupp Arena (24,321)Lexington, Kentucky
12/19/98 *
No. 5
vs. Princeton
W 81–58
11–1
21 – Profit
6 – Francis
4 – Francis, Stokes
Baltimore Arena (13,489)Baltimore
12/23/98 *
No. 5
North Texas
W 132–57
12–1
28 – Baxter
15 – Ekezie
9 – Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
12/27/98 *
No. 5
South Carolina State
W 104–70
13–1
25 – Profit
9 – Mardesich
12 – Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
01/03/99
No. 4
No. 2 Duke
L 64–82
13–2 (1–1)
16 – Morris
9 – Morris, Profit
7 – Francis
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
01/07/99
No. 5
at Virginia
W 71–66
14–2 (2–1)
17 – Ekezie, Morris
7 – Ekezie
6 – Francis
University Hall (8,268)Charlottesville, Virginia
01/10/99
No. 5
NC State
W 94–48
15–2 (3–1)
22 – Francis
6 – Morris
9 – Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
01/13/99
No. 5
at No. 9 North Carolina
W 89–76
16–2 (4–1)
24 – Profit
6 – Francis
8 – Stokes
Dean E. Smith Center (21,572)Chapel Hill, North Carolina
01/19/99
No. 4
Georgia Tech
W 77–62
17–2 (5–1)
20 – Morris
10 – Morris
7 – Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
01/24/99
No. 4
at Clemson
W 81–79 OT
18–2 (6–1)
26 – Morris
5 – Morris
5 – Stokes
Littlejohn Coliseum (11,200)Clemson, South Carolina
01/27/99
No. 4
Florida State
W 107–87
19–2 (7–1)
22 – Ekezie
6 – Morris
9 – Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
01/31/99
No. 4
at Wake Forest
L 72–85
19–3 (7–2)
18 – Dixon
11 – Morris
5 – Francis, Stokes
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (13,679)Winston-Salem, North Carolina
02/03/99
No. 7
at No. 2 Duke
L 77–95
19–4 (7–3)
18 – Francis, Profit
7 – Francis, Morris, Stokes
6 – Stokes
Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314)Durham, North Carolina
02/06/99
No. 7
Virginia
W 88–72
20–4 (8–3)
16 – Morris
8 – Morris
13 – Francis
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
02/10/99
No. 7
at NC State
W 63–50
21–4 (9–3)
17 – Morris
16 – Morris
5 – Stokes
Reynolds Coliseum (12,400)Raleigh, North Carolina
02/13/99
No. 7
North Carolina
W 81–64
22–4 (10–3)
24 – Profit
6 – Francis
8 – Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
02/21/99
No. 5
at Georgia Tech
W 91–60
23–4 (11–3)
22 – Francis
6 – Baxter, Morris
5 – Stokes
Alexander Memorial Coliseum (7,963)Atlanta
02/24/99
No. 5
Clemson
W 77–60
24–4 (12–3)
32 – Francis
8 – Francis
9 – Stokes
Cole Field House (14,500)College Park, Maryland
02/27/99
No. 5
at Florida State
W 84–75
25–4 (13–3)
32 – Profit
7 – Morris, Profit
5 – Stokes
Tallahassee–Leon County Civic Center (6,899)Tallahassee, Florida
ACC tournament
03/05/99
No. 5
vs. Florida State Quarterfinal
W 93–69
26–4
21 – Profit
10 – Profit
6 – Stokes
Charlotte Coliseum (23,895)Charlotte, North Carolina
03/06/99
No. 5
vs. No. 15 North Carolina Semifinal
L 79–86
26–5
31 – Francis
8 – Morris
5 – Stokes
Charlotte Coliseum (23,895)Charlotte, North Carolina
1999 NCAA men's basketball tournament
03/11/99 *
vs. Valparaiso NCAA First Round
W 82–60
27–5
18 – Morris, Profit
10 – Morris
7 – Francis
Orlando Arena (9,221)Orlando, Florida
03/13/99 *
vs. Creighton NCAA Second Round
W 75–63
28–5
20 – Morris
13 – Francis
5 – Morris
Orlando Arena (14,959)Orlando, Florida
03/18/99 *
vs. St. John's NCAA Sweet 16
L 62–76
28–6
13 – Francis
8 – Baxter, Profit
7 – Stokes
Thompson–Boling Arena (20,000)Knoxville, Tennessee
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in
Eastern Time [8] .
Rankings
Poll
Pre
Wk 1
Wk 2
Wk 3
Wk 4
Wk 5
Wk 6
Wk 7
Wk 8
Wk 9
Wk 10
Wk 11
Wk 12
Wk 13
Wk 14
Wk 15
Wk 16
Final
AP[9]
6
6
5
2
2
5
5
4
5
5
4
4
7
7
5
5
5
5
Coaches
5
5
5
2
2
5
5
4
6
5
4
4
6
7
5
5
5
8
References
^ sports-reference.com 1998-99 Atlantic Coast Conference Season Summary
^ "Ekezie, Profit Named Preseason Honorable Mention All-American" . umterps.com . Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2011 .
^ "Men's Basketball Team a Consensus Top Five National Selection" . Maryland Men's Basketball . UMTerps.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011 .
^ Feinstein, John (October 27, 1998). "The Hunted" . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011 .
^ "Men's Basketball Selected to Finish Second in Conference" . Maryland Men's Basketball . UMTerps.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011 .
^ "Terps Bomb North Texas, 132–57" . Maryland Men's Basketball . UMTerps.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011 .
^ "Terps Selected to Play in School-Record Sixth Consecutive NCAA Tournament" . Maryland Men's Basketball . UMTerps.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011 .
^ "1998–99 Men's Basketball Results" . Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2011 .
^ "Maryland 1999 AP Men's Basketball Rankings" . College Poll Archive . College Poll Archive. Retrieved April 29, 2011 .
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons NCAA national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics